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National market update

Housing Stimulus and Stabilization Will Help Economic Recovery

WASHINGTON, February 12, 2009 - The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Charles McMillan:

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is important for the U.S. economy and contains some important housing provisions. Eliminating the repayment provision in the $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit will help bring buyers to the market and reduce housing inventory. More...
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4th Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Down as Buyers Purchase Distressed Property

WASHINGTON, February 12, 2009 - Most metropolitan area median home prices, impacted by distressed sales, trended down in the fourth quarter from a year earlier. At the same time, existing-home sales rose in only six states from the fourth quarter of 2007, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors. More...
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January Existing-Home Sales Fall, Inventory Down

WASHINGTON, February 25, 2009 - Existing-home sales declined in January with some buyers waiting to see how details of the economic stimulus package would affect them, according to the National Association of Realtors®. At the same time, inventories fell to a two-year low. More...Read more

National housing indicators

Existing home sales ()

4.49 million units*

Existing home median price ()

$170,300

Housing Starts ()

466,000 units*

New home sales ()

National economic indicators

Home ownership

4th Qtr 08

67.5%

4th Qtr 07

67.8%

The homeownership rate in the fourth quarter 2008 (67.5%) was not statistically different from the fourth quarter 2007 rate (67.8%). No region showed a significant change from corresponding rates in the fourth quarter 2007.

New home sales

Jan 09

-10.2%

Dec 08

-9.5%

Sales of new one-family houses in January 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 309,000. This is 10.2% below the revised December 2008 estimate of 344,000.

Source: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

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Regional market updates

View market statistics for your region.

Click on the links below to view data from two different industry sources. Choose information on local prices & state sales from any of 178 metropolitan housing markets prepared by the National Association of REALTORS® or information on sales & price activity from local area markets in 25 states prepared by Clarus MarketMetrics.

Local Sales & Price Activity

Karen Krehbiel

Hi!! Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to check out this month's housing trends newsletter. I hope you find some useful information. As always, please contact me (text, email, good old-fashioned phone call...) if I can help with any real estate needs or ansewr any questions.
Have a great day!! Read more

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, statements and/or ideas expressed in this Message Section do not reflect the ideas, policy, position, views or opinion of Move,Inc.

Consumer tips & hot properties

Take the Stress out of Buying a Home

Which emotion surges higher when buying a home excitement or anxiety? Either or both can take significant hold during the homebuying process. Imagining the possibilities of your new house can bring great joy, while the financial implications of making such a purchase create worries for most people. You can take steps to reduce the stress, though, and focus on the enjoyable aspects of buying a new home. More...Read more

Shop Around for Lower Insurance Rates

Does it surprise you that Texas homeowners pay more for homeowners insurance than residents of any other state in the U.S.? You may wonder why residents of Florida with all of its hurricanes and California with earthquakes, mudslides, and wildfires don’t pay more. Average Texas rates easily surpass those states, though, according to information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. More...Read more

Rental Property Owned by Celebrity

$28,000 buys you a week in Steve Martin's villa on the Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy.More...

Take Another Look at the Housing Market- This Might be Best Time to Buy

First-time Homebuyers are big winners. They're in a unique position to take advantage of the declines in housing prices and move right in. Being a buyer's market for the first time in many years, renter's impossible dream of homeownership are coming true. More...

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, a real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, real estate radio, realtor.com® local community reports and local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by local MLSs and the National Association of REALTORS®.

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